Candle



March 14, 1961 A. J. PENKE 2,974,509

CANDLE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eran-far A/aoar- J Pen/rewwa ZW 5 A. J. PENKE March 14, 1961 CANDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.27, 1958 A /aoar- J pen/Te March 14, 1961 PENKE 2,974,509

CANDLE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A/adar I Pen/(8 tates 'nitedCANDLE Filed Aug. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 757,588

2 Claims. (Cl. 67-225) This invention relates to an artistic candle andmethod of making the same, and more particularly to a candle havingpetal configurations formed around a central core which are adapted toopen downwardly and to glow with a soft light as the candle is burned.

Various types of artistic and rose-like candles are currently availablefor use on special occasions or as decorative features in the home andin general these candles are of a solid construction with the candleflame aifording the sole source of light. The candle of the presentinvention simulates a flower such as a rose, and when the candle is litthe petals of the flower glow softly due to their translucentcharacteristic, and open gradually and successively as the candle burnsdown to provide an effect similar to the actual unfolding of a flower.The candle includes a hollow core which may be formed by applyingwhipped wax around a cylinder mold such as a glass rod or cylindricalbulb and the petals are applied to the core by a spatula or the like toform a corolla, the petals being similarly of whipped wax so that theyhave a translucent characteristic as described. Preferably, the wax fromwhich the petals are made has a melting point which is higher than thatof the wax for the core. The core and corolla are impressed upon a leafybase of similar material and the mold or center core is withdrawn. Asolid wick equipped candle is provided to snugly fit in the core. Thewick of this candle is held in a metal base impressed in the bottom ofthe candle. This metal base holds the wick upright even when the wick issurrounded with molten wax. Preferably, a wire is woven into the fiberof the wick to lend rigidity thereto, and this wire melts as the wickburns down. A few petals of whipped wax may 'besapplied around the lipof the candle to complete the flower design when the candle is insertedinto the hollow of the core. A pocket is formed between the bottom ofthe candle and the bottom of the core due to the concave shape of thecore bottom, and molten wax from the candle can drain into this pocketto solidify and hold the metal base of the candle in fixed position toinsure an upright position for the wick.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention ot provide anartistic candle which resembles a flower its over-all configuration andis made of foamed wax so that the petals are translucent and glow as thecandle slowly burns down.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artistic candle asdescribed in which the petals will gradually and successively unfoldoutwardly and downwardly as the candle burns in a manner similar to thenatural unfolding of a flower.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artistic candle asdescribed having a central recess for removably receiving a candle ofconventional type which may be provided with complementary petalsadjacent its lip conforming to the flower-like pattern of the basicstructure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method atent O PatentedMar. '14, 19st 2 of making a candle of artistic type which includes thesteps of whipping a batch of melted wax to a foam-like condition,dipping a cylindrical mold such as a glass rod or cylinder into thefoamed material to provide a tubular core, applying petals of foamed waxto the core by means of a spatula or the like, as Well as inserting theflower-like structure thus formed into a softened base material ofsimilar type to provide the completed article.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a candle according to the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to the view of Figure 1 showing thecandle after its petals have opened;

Figure 3 is a fiont view of the cup-like central core of the candle andmeans for forming the same;

Figure 4 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 2 in invertedposition with petals applied thereto;

Figure 5 is a front view of the candle after application of the petalsand before removal of the mold in assembly with a base therefor.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 5 afterremoval of the mold;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a candle adapted to be removablyreceived in the structure of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the structures shown in Figures6 and 7 in assembled relationship; and

Figure 9 is a view similar to the View of Figure 8 showing thedisposition of the petals after the candle has burned down somewhat.

Referring now to the drawings, the artistic candle 10 of the inventioncomprises a cup-shaped central core 12 as seen in Figures 3 to 5, apetalled structure or corolla 14 secured to the core 12, as seen inFigure 5, a base 16 supporting the core 12 and the corolla M and acandle 18 having petals 20 surrounding the lip thereof, the candle 18being removably received in the core 12 as best seen in Figures 8 and 9.

Molded rose type candles are generally of a solid wax construction andburn conventionally without any glow or nimbus such as is afforded bythe candle 10 of the invention. The glow afforded by applicants deviceis achieved by means of :a translucent characteristic in the wax usedfor the core and petal structures 12 and 1 t, and for this purpose thesestructures, and preferably, the base 16, are made of a whipped wax orparafiin. Since the candle element 18 is of conventional solid wax, anovel combination of solid and whipped wax elements is provided, ashereinafter further described.

In the manufacture of the candle of the invention, paraffin wax ismelted to a liquid consistency in a suitable container (not shown). Thewax is then permitted to set until a thin film or skimming appears overthe top thereof. Thereupon it is whipped into a foam by means of asuitable beating mechanism, such as a mixer of standard type, molten waxbeing preferably added simultaneously to the batch. The wax will remainin a plastic state for a period of in the neighborhood of 20 minutes andwhile it is in this state a mold such as a cylindrical rod or glass tubeis inserted into the batch to a depth of approximately the desired axialdimension of the candle. Preferably, a conventional light bulb oftubular shape is used to provide the mold, as designated by numeral 22in Figures 3-5. The plastic material which adheres to the mold is formedinto a shaped shell cup by means of a spatula or other suitable utensilto a radial thickness which may be approximately an eighth of an inch.The core 12 thus formed may be prevented from dripping by dipping itinto a solution comprised of magnesium sulphate (epsom salts), dextrinand water in Q the proportions of, for example, one cup of magnesiumsulphate and one cup of dextrin to seven cups of water.

The corolla or petalled structure 14 is formed from a foamed waxprepared in a manner as above described, with the exception that the waxor paraffin used therefor preferably has a melting point in theneighborhood of to 20 F. higher than the melting point'of the corematerial. In a preferred example, the paraflin of the core has a meltingpoint of from 125 to 135 F. and the paratfin of the corolla has amelting point of from 135 F. to 145 F., it being understood thatsubstantially 10 degrees difference in the melting point is thusprovided, as above indicated. This melting point differential iseffective in controlling dripping in the petals during their formationand also during burning of the candle, although it will be understoodthat the petals may be dipped in the aforementioned solution where a waxof somewhat lower melting point is used, or, if desired, when Waxes ofthe melting points described are used. And it is preferred that the corebe intermittently chilled by dipping in the solution as petals are addedin order to preserve its solidity. The core 12 and corolla 14 are, ofcourse, permitted to set or are chilled by suitable means beforeassembly with the base 16. The cupshaped core 12 shown in Figure 3 isinvented as seen in Figure 4 and the wax or foamed parafiin used for thecorolla is applied by means of a spatula by dipping the spatula into thebatch and forming successively overlapped petals 24 on the core 12. Thisoverlapped relationship is similar to the shingling on a conventionalroof and desirably is accomplished from the bottom of the cup-shapedcore or matrix 12 to the top thereof in the position of the core shownin Figure 4 (or, in the normal position thereof shown in Figure 5, fromthe top of the cup down). Thus the manner of applying the petals may becompared to procedure used in frosting a cake.

The base 16 is similarly formed of foamed wax whose melting point mayapproximate that of the core material 12. Desirably, leaf-shapedsegments 26 are applied in a form corresponding to a leafy bed whosediameter may approximate the diameter of the corolla 14 at its lower--most point. The leaf-shaped segments are. applied by a spatula orsimilar utensil to a sheet of material such as cardboard or the like,and while the base is still in the plastic state the fused corolla andcore structure is pressed into the base coaxially and centrally thereofas shown in Figure 5. Thus, the base 16 and the corolla 14 and core 12form a unitary structure which is not subject to accidental separation,the adhesion of the parts being augmented by the foamed wax materialused in the invention. Thereupon, the light bulb 22 is turned on and theheat emanating therefrom melts the interior surface of the recess 23 inthe core to a slight extent and the bulb is easily removed from the corewithout damaging the parts. The article is then ready to receive theconventional candle element 18, which is of a solid wax construction. Aplurality of petals 20 are preferably applied to the peripheral surfaceof the candle adjacent the upper lip 30 thereof by holding the candle inan inverted position and spreading on individual portions of paraffin asabove set forth. The candle element 18 desirably has a diameterapproximating but slightly less than the internal diameter of the recess28 of the core and is inserted. into the recess as seen in Figures 8 and9. The wick 32 of the candle 18 may be formed around a wire 34- to makeit stand up in axial alignment with the candle element. A metal base 35has a central lanced portion providing central tabs 35a clamping thebottom of the wick and upturned corners 35b providing peripheral tabsanchored into the wax body of the candle. The metal base and wick heldthereby may be molded in any suitably shaped plastic cup and chilled toprovide a candle which can melt down. completely and still have the wicksurrounded by molten wax and standing in an upright position withouttouching the whipped wax petals.

As shown in Figure 8, when the candle 18 is inserted in the hollow core12, the metal base 35 is above the round bottom of the core to provide ahollow pocket 37 which, as shown in Figure 9, fills with molten wax asthe candle melts down. Then when this wax in the pocket solidifies, themetal base and candle are integrally locked to become part of the core.

The candle thus formed has the individual petals 24 turned upwardly andoutwardly as shown in Figure 8 so as to resemble a flower in a partiallyopen state. As the candle is burned, however, the radially inner andaxially lower bases 36 of the petals are successively softened so thatthey open or unfold outwardly to a position as indicated in Figure 9.This drooping or exfoliation of the petals is accomplished withoutmelting or dripping of the petals both because of the relatively highermelting point of the wax which may be used therefor and the fact thatthe petals are in effect fins which dissipate heat radially outwardly.Because of the lesser density and volume of material per cubic spacewhich is produced by the foaming process, the petals are exceptionallytranslucent and the light from the candle 18 as it burns graduallydownwardly will suffuse the petals with a soft nimbus or glow. It willalso be appreciated that the structure described has the advantage ofpermitting the use of different candles in the recess 28 and thereplacement of candles as desired within the core 12.

Alternatively, however, the petals 24 may be applied directly to thecandle 18 in the manner indicated in Figure 7. In accomplishing thisobjective, the candle element 18 is desirably secured by inserting apronglike utensil into the lower end thereof so that it may be heldsecure during the application of the petals, which may proceed in amanner as hereinbefore set forth. The finished structure may be dippedin the aforementioned solution, although it will be appreciated that inboth embodiments the article may be manufactured without the use of suchsolution.

There has thus been provided an artistic candle wherein a central coresupports a corolla of petals which are translucent and adapted to glowwith a soft light as the candle is burned down. The candle isconstructed of a combination of solid and foamed wax in a manner whichpermits the petals to open successively as the candle is burned. Theentire structure is exceptionally beautiful in appearance, particularlyin use, and suitable coloring agents are desirably added to the moltenwax material used therein to add to the naturalistic appearance of thepetals and base. For example, oil soluble dyes may be used for thispurpose with stearic acid as a wetting? agent, and for smaller scalemanufacturing operations ordinary coloring crayons will afford thedesired effect. The candle may be used in a wide variety of settings andis calculated to enhance the enjoyment of any occasion. Although I haveherein set forth and described my invention with respect to certainspecific principles and details thereof, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An artistic flower candle comprising a tubular wax core closed at itslower end and open at its upper end, a corolla of translucent wax petalshaving radially inner and axially lower ends fused to the core along thelength thereof in surrounding relationship thereto, a candle 1n saidcore in spaced relationship thereto and having a lower melting pointthan said core, said candle having a metal base embedded in the bottomthereof, a wire containing wick having one end locked in said base andextending from the base axially through the candle beyond the oppositeend thereof, the bottom of the candle being spaced above the bottom ofthe core to provide a wax receiving pocket wherein molten wax from theburning candle will solidify to lock the base to the core and hold thewick in upright position away from the petals, said core retainingmolten candle wax therein and said radially inner and axially lower endsof the petals having softening points to cause the petals to droop asthe candle in the core burns downwardly thereby simulating the openingof a flower in a progressive unfolding petal action.

2. An artistic flower simulating candle structure comprising a wax corehaving a wick extending axially therefrom, a corolla of wax flowersimulative petals surrounding said core with successive petals extendingone above the other axially along the core, said petals extendingradially upwardly and with adjacent petals being angularly offset fromone another to provide an overlapping, shingled relationship comparableto a rose petal overlap,

6 the bases of said petals being joined to said core and the wax of saidpetals having a higher melting point than the wax of said core tomaintain their structural identity during the melting of the core, thewax of said petals having a softening temperature causing the petals todroop as the core burns downwardly to thereby progressively open up thepetals from the core in an unfolding action simulating the opening of aflower.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS370,562 Schrnitt Sept. 27, 1887 1,554,524 Rhoads Sept. 22, 19252,308,738 Bauer et al. Jan. 19, 1943 2,354,343 Webber et al. July 25,1944 2,478,202 Moore Aug. 9, 1949 2,486,469 French Nov. 1, 1949

